Turkey Calls U.S. Pressure Over Russian Defense System Unacceptably Threatening

According to a report by Reuters, on Tuesday, Turkey said that a US House of Representatives' resolution condemning Ankara's purchase of Russian defense systems and pushing for sanctions was unacceptably threatening. Relations between the two NATO members have reportedly been strained by Ankara's plan to buy Russian air defense systems, as well as the detention of US consular staff in Turkey and conflicting stances on Syria and Iran. Reuters reports that the standoff threatens to bring U.S. sanctions, which threatens to worsen Turkey’s already recession-hit economy, and raises questions over the role it plays in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.